The investigation into the death of singer Zubeen Garg has taken a new turn after the Assam CID added murder charges against festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta and Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma.
Officials confirmed that Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which prescribes death or life imprisonment and a fine for murder, has now been invoked in CID cases no. 18/25 and 19/25. Both accused had earlier been booked under multiple BNS provisions relating to negligence and conspiracy. After absconding for 13 days, they were arrested from Delhi and remanded to 14-day police custody.
Garg, who was in Singapore to perform at the Northeast Festival, died on September 19 during an unplanned yacht outing. The Singapore Police Force has officially confirmed that the cause of death was drowning while swimming off St John’s Island, and ruled out foul play. The autopsy report was provided to the Indian High Commission and later handed over to Garg’s wife, Garima Garg, in Guwahati. Authorities have requested that the report not be made public for now.
The Assam government has activated the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with Singapore to facilitate cooperation in the case. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is also probing the circumstances surrounding Garg’s death.
Also read | Zubeen Garg’s death: Shyamkanu Mahanta, Siddharta Sharma arrested